Elmore Leonard had a keen ear for dialogue

9:05 PM, August 20, 2013

Loading Photo Galleries ...

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Book Beat co-owner talks about legendary crime aut...: Book Beat co-owner Cary Loren talks about legendary crime author Elmore Leonard at his store in Oak Park. Leonard died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, at his home in Bloomfield Village at the age of 87. Ryan Garza/Detroit Free Press

Related Links

Author Elmore Leonard, 85, listens to an emailed birthday wishes video from writers of the TV show 'Justified' in his home in Bloomfield Village, Mich., on Friday, Oct. 15, 2010. / Patrica Beck/Detroit Free Press

More

ADVERTISEMENT

Elmore Leonard’s dialogue was among the most influential aspects of his writing. He had an incomparable ear for the way people talk, painting crackling scenes and defining character with just a few clipped strokes of gritty speech. “If it sounds like writing, I re-write it,” he famously said.

Here are three passage that illustrate his method:

“City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit” (1980)

He walked across Grand River to Dunleavy’s. Jerry Hunter was at the bar with a girl who was resting her arm on Jerry’s shoulder, closer to him but acting bored. She took time to look Raymond Cruz over while he placed his doggie bag on the bar and ordered a bourbon.

Hunter said, “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“They have a new thing,” Raymond said. “They invite you to dinner. Then just before the check comes they get mad and walk out. Leave you with a forty-two-dollar tab.”

She narrowed green-shadowed eyes as she moved with the beat. “If we were over at Lindell’s — who’s in town? — you might be ballplayers. Except they never wear ties. Nobody wears ties.”

“Freaky Deaky” (1988)

Robin said, “I could tell you were a little ripped when you walked in.”

“Not bad. All I had after work was some hash and beer. I’m still geeked on acid, but couldn’t find none. I can get blotter in L.A. once in a while, it’s okay. But old Owsley’s preemo purple or even windowpane, that stuff could get you in touch with your ancestors. ... Acid’s good for you — I mean you don’t overdo it, become a burnout. It’s like laxative for the brain, it mellows you while it cleans out your head.”

Robin sipped her wine. She said, “I have some,” and saw Skip’s sly grin peeking through his beard, a sparkle coming into his pale eyes.

“You know I suffer from anti-acrophobia, fear of not being high.”

“Cuba Libre“ (1998)

Amelia, when she wanted, could express all sorts of emotions with her eyes. Neely told her one time she could’ve been an actress, caught himself right away and said, “What am I talking about, could have been.”

He watched her turn to the young man behind the cigar counter.

“You know what I like, Tony, Sweet Caporals, por favor.” Neely struck a match and held it ready as she tore open the pack of cigarettes.